Customized Training and Practical Assistance
Street Law is available to contract with organizations and educators interested in starting a Youth Act!® leadership training program. Street Law staff will design a customized training experience and technical assistance plan for adult leaders, youth participants, or both.
Participants will learn substantive information about public policy issues and the methods and skills necessary to take action and affect meaningful change and will leave the training with an advocacy action plan.
The training is followed by practical assistance to encourage participants in their advocacy efforts. Help and support is available by telephone and e-mail to all youth advocates and adult leaders.
To learn more or get started, please contact Judy Zimmer.
Benefits
The positive effects of a Youth Act!® leadership training program can be felt by the participants, the adult leader(s), and the greater community. Participants learn substantive information about important topics and develop knowledge and skills in:
- Advocacy
- Legislation and governance
- Communication
- Coalition building
- Public policy
- Community problem-solving
- Public speaking
- Media advocacy
- Cooperation
Youth participants have benefited their communities by:
- Sending letters to decision-makers to vote in favor of laws impacting their lives
- Becoming local experts on important issues
- Testifying before state legislative committees opposing pending legislation
- Lobbying local school boards for additional resources
- Conducting media advocacy campaigns to influence public opinion about pending public policy discussions
- Conducting e-mail action alert campaigns to encourage community members to contact their elected representatives on pending votes
- Lobbying state senators and representatives to introduce, pass, or vote against legislation that directly impacts them
- Petitioning community members to gain public support and awareness of issues facing their communities